10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Luke
Eva stares at me in my silence. Her lips push together in a way I love. She wants answers, of which I’ll give her. But I have absolutely no intention of making it quick. I want to make sure she won’t run once she finds out who I now am. Once I know I have her, then she can know the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Until then, I want to spend as much time with her in case I have to leave and lay low.
“Say something,” she whispers cautiously.
Running my thumb through my cupid’s bow, I watch her shift in her seat.
“Luke.”
“Are you seeing anyone?” I blurt out like time is of the essence. She thinks I’ve brought other women here. Truth is, she’s the first, but in the same way she wants to know about women in my life, I want to know if there’s anyone in hers.
Eva’s eyes pop open. “What kind of question is that?”
“I’m serious, Eva. Are you fucking anyone?” Because the thought alone is killing me.
“I’m leaving.” She stands abruptly from the table, grabbing her bag from the back of her chair.
“Sit down,” I tell her briskly.
“Fuck off. ”
I stand, towering over her. “I said, sit, Eva.” I can’t let her leave. Not yet.
Looking up at me, I see her hesitate before I watch her swallow, probably wondering who the fuck I think I am. She didn’t know me back then, and she certainly doesn’t know me now. But she knows I would never have spoken to her like this the last time we were together. “Please,” I add sternly, but trying to be courteous.
I count my lucky stars when the waiter comes to our table with the bottle of wine I ordered and some olives for the table. “Would you like to taste the wine, Sir?” he asks, stopping the silver trolley he’s pushing.
“Not this time. Eva, will you do the honours?” I sound confident that she’ll say yes even though I’m beginning to get twitchy.
“Miss?” The waiter, Franco, turns to Eva, pulling the bottle from a bucket of ice and holding it out for her to inspect.
She glances a look at me before she’s too polite to refuse Franco’s offer. “Just a quick taste,” she says, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder. She still looks like she could leave at any minute.
“Please, take a seat,” he tells her, and I sit, hoping she’ll follow.
Eva falters, but when Franco corks the bottle and pours her a small glass, she sits, accepting it. “Thank you,” she offers, giving him a smile but dropping it when she looks at me.
Franco nods his head dutifully, and my heart steadies its manic rhythm for the time being. Eva likes to please and she’s a good listener. It bodes well for me. Even if she’s mad.
The only way I can describe watching Eva take a sip from her glass then lick her lips, is painful. Torturous, even. I have to quickly divert my stare before I forget that I need to take this slow. You don’t have the time to move slow . The devil on my shoulder plays havoc with me, messing with the calm and control I’m fortunate to possess.
I haven’t forgotten what I came here to do. But it’s done, and before I might need to lay low for a while, I need to get Eva on board. I need to let her know why I ran.
“Is the wine to your liking?” Franco asks her.
Eva hums, nodding her head. “It tastes expensive. ”
Franco gives me a look over his smile, but I keep my face forward. On Eva. She’s beautiful, even when she scowls. “The wine’s great. Thank you, Franco.”
He nods, relieved, then pours Eva a full glass before he places the bottle back in the bucket. Neither Eva nor I move as he walks away, leaving the trolley by the table.
“You’re not drinking?” Eva eventually says.
“I don’t like alcohol.”
“But you drank the last time I was with you?”
I steeple my hands in front of me. “That was then. This is now.”
“Why did you run, Luke?”
“Why are you asking so many questions?” I crack.
She frowns. “Because I have every right to.”
Okay. That’s fair. “You want to get to know me better?”
“Yes.”
“I want to get to know you better, too, Eva.”
“Ask me something then,” she says in a smart, sexy tone, frustration lacing her words.
“Fine.” I take a quick pause, thinking. “How’s the shop?”
“Shut.”
Shut? “Why?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
It does to me, but it’s clear she doesn’t want to talk about it. “Okay, tell me something about yourself.”
“I like watching sunsets and reading romance novels,” she snaps effortlessly. Eva then crosses her arms over her middle, sitting back in her chair, looking away from me. “You tell me something about you.”
Easy. “I hate having my picture taken.”
I cringe at myself for disclosing that piece of information, and she frowns again, eyes snapping to me, this time studying me a little longer. Her lips part but she slows herself down from biting a response. Eventually, she leans forward, giving me her full attention. “Why?” she asks gently, and for the life of me, I can’t answer her. In my silence, she sighs, adding, “You said you would tell me why you ran. I’m still waiting for an answer. ”
I take an insufferable breath. “I was scared, Eva.”
My first slice of truth, she hears. I watch her contemplate what to say. “Of me?” she finally asks, although it makes me grind my teeth in annoyance. How could she think I was scared of her?
“No. Not you.”
“Then what? The situation?”
I nod my head in response. Truth is, I haven’t had another episode like I did that night. Hope I never have another again. Everything I’ve done in the time away from her has ensured I never encounter the fear that took hold of me that night.
There’s a sceptical look that graces her face. “But now you’re over it?” She shakes her head. “What about the woman you were with earlier. Who is she by the way? Girlfriend? Wife?”
She’s my most trusted tech woman. “Why does it matter?” I say, my voice tiptoeing on being rude.
She laughs. It’s fake. “It matters because you made me feel like you and I shared more than just intimacy. I trusted you, Luke, and you made me feel stupid.” She slaps a palm to her head. “Christ, listen to me. This is stupid.”
“It’s not.”
I see her eyes mist. “This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come here.”
Eva goes to stand, but I reach under the table, placing my hand on her knee. My grip isn’t tight, but it’s firm enough for her to know I’m serious. “None of the time I spent with you was a mistake.”
She blinks, and I can’t stop my thumb from sliding over her smooth skin, like touching her is my life source.
“Maybe not to you.” She jerks her knee away. “I have to go.” Eva picks up the wine, gulping it back. “How much do I owe you for all this?” She slams the glass on the table, showing me how determined she can be.
“It’s fine.” I wave my hand dismissively, knowing how much it costs.
“No, no. I like to clear my debts.”
Her dig doesn’t go unnoticed. I paid the bar tab as soon as I could. Her car I wanted to do in person. To be honest, not paying it off was an excuse to have to come back to her one day. Tilting my head, her eyes drop to my mouth. “I said, it’s fine.”
She loses her breath when she looks back at me. “How much?” she says again, flicking open her purse.
Fine. Have it her way. “Three hundred and eighty for the bottle. Twenty for the olives.”
She gawps, and I suppress the smile trying to break on my face. “No problem,” she smarts, clearly flapping. She won’t have that kind of cash on her. “I’ll settle the bill at the desk.”
She walks past me, and I take my time flicking an olive into my mouth before I stand and begin following her. I don’t bother trying to contain my smile as I button my jacket, watching her perfect, round cheeks bounce with every step she takes. It’s like the first time I watched her in the bar. I want to reach out and grip her hips, hold on to them as I claim her. Fuck. I feel desperate.
Watching her manoeuvre the other tables, my guess is she isn’t used to wearing heels that often. There’s an unsteadiness to her step. It’s subtle, but her head’s tilted down, watching where she’s stepping. She’s nervous, but more than anything, she showed up here when she could have ignored my note.
That tells me all I need to know.
“I need to settle the bill for Luke…” Eva spins around, looking for me, quickly realising I’m right there behind her. “What’s your last name?” she fires at me, straightening, still annoyed.
I smile. “It’s Jones.”
She turns back to the man behind the desk. “The bill for Luke Jones. I need to pay it, please.”
The man behind the desk looks up at me. I give him a subtle shake of my head before he looks back at Eva. “That bill is already settled, Miss,” he lies.
Eva doesn’t immediately turn back around, but I notice her shoulders begin to shake. Lord help me. Snapping her purse shut, she slowly turns to face me.
I suddenly can’t see straight. The light from the entrance reflects off her glowing skin. She’s radiant. Just how I remember her. Her hair is darker, but still auburn. The small waves ripple around her face, highlighting how green her eyes truly are. The mascara she’s wearing only serves to make them stand out more, too.
I’m trapped in the most devastating web and I don’t ever want to be freed.
“You don’t owe me anything, Eva.” I don’t blink. Too afraid to miss a moment more with her.
“Luke,” she begins, her head dropping.
I stop her. “Please, Eva. Just trust me.”
Then she sighs. “You’ve given me no reason to.”
Slipping my hands into my pockets, I realise she’s right. “I know I’ve hurt you. But I want to spend what time I have making it up to you.”
She looks up. “What time you have?” Eva questions, regarding me closely.
“I’m back up here for work. I might have to leave in a few days.”
She swallows, looking towards the revolving door as more guests walk in. There’s a man and a woman, both their eyes fixated on me, waiting for Eva. I give them a courteous nod, but think nothing more of it when I realise Eva’s thinking about trying to leave again.
She turns to look at me, and I can see it in her eyes that she won’t. She can’t. The pull between us is stronger than any magnet. Tougher than any diamond. Neither of us can explain it. But we can feel it. “Where is home?”
Wherever you are . “A few hours from here,” I reply, cringing at myself internally. I can’t tell her I have no roots. No ties to any one place. Adam lives not too far away, and it’s where I stay. But it isn’t home.
Eva’s face falls flat. “You cover a large area for a cleaning company.”
Cleaning company. Loan shark collector. Virtually the same thing. “It’s worth it.” I know she knows what I mean; that I got to see her. “Will you give me this night?”
“To do what?”
I step closer, able to smell her shampoo. She still uses the strawberry scented kind. “To let me explain.”
I’m stuck under her stare. “I gave you a chance to do that by coming here. All you did was ask if I was fucking anybody—which by the way—is none of your business. ”
Not yet. “Eva?” I plead, as she takes a step, but immediately stops, turning to look back at me.
“Answer me this,” she counters. “How did you know I was at the event earlier?”
Because I’ve had someone looking into you on and off for the past three years. She found your name on the event list and agreed to pretend to be my plus one so I could see you.
No, I can’t tell her that in my absence I turned into a stalker. In my defence, I couldn’t be one-hundred-percent sure Eva would show at the event today. I didn’t want to invade her life. Carrie only ever checked her social media occasionally.
Yes, I could have done this myself had I figured out social media. But I didn’t. If ever she wasn’t safe, then I needed to know. If she looked happy, I told Carrie to let her live her life without me.
“I didn’t know you would be there. It was a coincidence. I went to go to my seat but I saw you and walked back out again.” I half shrug, my nerves rattling. “I was nervous.” She narrows her eyes, and I hold my hands up, able to at least speak a little bit of truth. I saw her walk in with her friends and knew instantly I was in trouble. “I promise.” My tone is gentle as I speak.
Her face relaxes. “Okay, so why make out there was an issue with my ticket? Why not just talk to me?”
I smirk. “How else was I to get you alone?”
“And the girl? Who is she?”
“She’s a business associate.”
In truth, Carrie’s the only other woman I trust. We came here for real business, but she occasionally helps with the fake kind. The kind that, should anybody check, seems above board and legitimate. Just two investors looking for up and coming entrepreneurs to support.
Emerald greens narrow on me. “You sound so sure of yourself.” She gazes past me, crossing her arms. Protecting herself.
“Talk to me, Eva,” I tell her.
Raking her gaze over me, Eva tilts her head slightly to one side. “You’re the exact opposite of how I remember you, Luke. Except, maybe the hair. That hasn’t changed.” I give her a small smile. “I’m just trying to decide which version I prefer. The guy who wasn’t aware how beautiful he was, or the man who seems to have an answer for everything.”
Her truth slams against my ears. I am who I am now because of the experiences I’ve had in life. The good and the bad ones. “Let me prove I’m the same man deep down.”
Studying me, she takes her second step towards the door. “I must be mad.”
“Where are you going?” I call out behind her.
“I need food before I hear what you’ve got to say.”
I smile and follow. Grateful.
Once outside, she heads towards the taxi queue.
“Eva.” She turns to look at me as I gesture towards my Audi R8, which is parked along the side of the road. “I’ll drive.”
She makes her way over to me with tentative steps. “Last time I got in a car with you, I almost died.”
Dramatic .
I pull out my keys. “The stab wound could have killed you, Eva. My driving was fine.” Ish.
On a scoff, Eva pretends not to like my car, but I see her checking it out. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
I scoff this time. “Safe? I can assure you you’re safe with me, Little Warrior.” Seeing her face temporarily fall makes me falter. I open the door and gesture for her to get in.
Eventually, she lowers into my car. “You learned to drive?” she asks timidly, stopping me before I can close the door.
I wink down at her. “Better than Lewis.”
Before long, I’m pulling up outside the hotel I’ve been staying at for the past two days. I park in my usual space then get out and round the car to Eva’s side. When I open it, I hold out my hand for her to take.
She rejects me for the second time this evening, but I try not to dwell on it. She’s here, idiot. This is what you wanted . Stepping back, she stands straight, running her hands down the front of her dress .
I pull out my phone when it rings, clicking it to silent. I told Adam to only call if it was an emergency. Part of me wonders what could warrant him calling, but when I look at Eva, I don’t give a toss about anything else.
Her eyebrows raise. “They have burgers here?” she asks wearily, but with light amusement in her tone.
I shut the door to my car and lock it. “Burgers. Steaks. Whatever you want.” My phone rings again.
“Someone wants you.”
I ignore it. “Someone can wait.”
Eva shakes her head. I’m losing her. “Luke—”
“Eva, I’m not talking you around every time we have an awkward moment.” She glares at me. “One drink. That’s all I ask.”
“I wanted food,” she retorts, making my jaw tick.
“And food. One drink and some food.”
“Fine.” She waits for me to start walking but I place my hand on her neck, forcing her to turn. It’s like a wildfire’s broken out across my skin. The burn, given the ferociousness of it, scorches me, but I simply can’t take my hand off her all the while we move.
I’ve doomed both of us.
There’s no way I can let her go now.
“Luke,” Eva mutters, undoubtedly feeling the longing ache the same as me.
Ignoring her, I keep her walking all the way past the reception desk and into the elevator. My hand doesn’t move the whole time we wait for the doors to close. As soon as they do, I spin, pinning Eva up against the mirror, my front flush to hers. I grab both her hands, lifting them above her head. “I want you, Eva.” Dipping my mouth, I press my lips to her collar bone, tracking my way up to her shoulder, peppering her with kisses. “There aren’t enough words to tell you how badly.” I begin my descent back to the centre of her chest, feeling her body vibrating with restless anticipation under mine. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I ran out of your place.” I lick up, over her throat making her angle her head to give me room. When she moans, my heart swells. “Fuck,” I breathe against her skin, before I’m sucking and nipping at any inch of her that I can find .
When I plunge my head into the crook of her neck, I’m racked with warmth and pleasure. This is what I’ve craved ever since I left. But not anymore. No more craving. Now I get to taste her. Mark her. Make her mine in unimaginable ways. She won’t know what to do with herself.
Take it steady .
Ignoring my conscience, my knee nudges her legs apart as both my hands move to rest over her hers still suspended above her head.
“Show me,” she croaks, and I move my head back to make sure I heard her right. “You said there aren’t enough words to tell me how badly you’ve wanted me. So show me, Luke.”
And. I’m. Done. For.
I knew this woman would break me the moment I first met her. That she’d shatter me in ways I’ve only ever dreamed about. I intend to do the exact same thing to her, using the methods I’ve come to utilise so well.
Catching her reflection, I pause, admiring the way she looks under my control. She watches me as I move, hitching up her dress with one hand until it’s sitting on her hip. “I like this dress.” All the ways I could have fun with her whilst she’s wearing something this short, play out before me.
Her eyes are filled with lust as they drop to my hand in the reflection of the mirror. Hearing her breath hitch, I smile, stroking the very tip of my index finger over her leg to the front of her underwear.
It’s lace. The fabric exquisitely pushing against her sweet little pussy. I press the pad of my finger to her clit, then drag it down over her covered lips, feeling her trying to squeeze her thighs together.
When her eyes close, I press a little harder.
Her body bows into my touch. “Luke.”
My lips are on hers then, our mouths smashing together in a wild, unharnessed rhythm.
The elevator doors ping, making Eva jump, but I drag her, keeping my mouth on hers, looping her arms over my shoulders. I lift her effortlessly, the palms of my hands gliding over her bum. So soft and so smooth, hungrily I explore her skin, wanting to rid her of her dress before I’m even inside the room. I reach into my pocket once at my door, grabbing for my keys .
She stiffens. “Someone might see us.” She moans against my lips, still devouring me.
Right now, I couldn’t care who sees me. But I don’t want anyone else seeing what I’ve considered mine for all these years. I need to see her first. Me, and only me.
Possessive? Sure. But it’s the truth. My hand rummages in my pocket. Where the fuck are the keys? “Fuck, Eva. I don’t think I can stop.”
She smiles against me, and I smile right back. Pushing my tongue to hers, I greedily seek more, searching the inside of her mouth as I fist her hair, forgetting my search for the keys. I keep pushing like I am, the door might cave in, anyway.
I roll my hips, her parted legs brushing against my groin.
She slumps in my hold, her back hitting the wood of the door. “Luke.”
Stealing myself away from her, I fumble through my pockets. I need to get her inside. Now. Finally, I manage to unlock what appears to be Fort Knox, carrying Eva over the threshold, kicking the door closed behind me. “Are you ready to let me show you I’m still the man you met all those years ago?”
Eva looks down at me, her back straightening giving me a perfect view of her chest. “Yes.”
Her legs squeeze around me as I begin walking into the room, throwing the keys on the side without looking. “Good.”